Sea sponge anchors are natural models of strength

Life may seem precarious for the sea sponge known as Venus' flower basket. Tiny, hair-like appendages made essentially of glass are all that hold the creatures to their seafloor homes. But fear not for these creatures of the deep. Those tiny lifelines, called basalia spicules, are fine-tuned for strength.

'Explosive' atom movement is new window into growing metal nanostructures

Scientists observed lead atoms unexpectedly moving collectively on a lead-on-silicon surface to 'explosively' form metal nanostructures, all at low temperatures.

Researchers discover n-type polymer for fast organic battery

Researchers have reported developing an efficient conductive electron-transporting polymer, a long-missing puzzle piece that will allow ultrafast battery applications.

Using sound waves to detect rare cancer cells (w/video)

Acoustic device can rapidly isolate circulating tumor cells from patient blood samples.

Aluminum battery offers safe alternative to conventional batteries

Scientists have invented the first high-performance aluminum battery that's fast-charging, long-lasting and inexpensive. Researchers say the new technology offers a safe alternative to many commercial batteries in wide use today.

Micro-magnetometer

Magnetic-field detector is 1,000 times more efficient than its predecessors.

New nanofiber 3-D designs for neural tissue engineering

In a new article, several new designs for 3D tissue constructs are described for using stem cells grown on nanofiber scaffolding within a supportive hydrogel.

New memristor technology could bring us closer to brain-like computing

Researchers have accomplished a new step forward in electronics that could bring brain-like computing closer to reality. The team's work advances memory resistors, or memristors, which are resistors in a circuit that "remember" how much current has flowed through them.

Researchers create first metal-free nanocatalyst for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Researchers have made what they believe is the first metal-free bifunctional electrocatalyst that performs as well or better than most metal and metal oxide electrodes in zinc-air batteries.

Engineers invent two-dimensional liquid

Where water and oil meet, a two-dimensional world exists. This interface presents a potentially useful set of properties for chemists and engineers, but getting anything more complex than a soap molecule to stay there and behave predictably remains a challenge. Now, researchers have hown how to do just that. Their 'soft' nanoparticles stick to the plane where oil and water meet, but do not stick to one another.

Application of egg white in production of nanoparticles

Researchers propose the application of egg white as the size-controlling agent in the production of oxide nanoparticles.

Researchers to develop a nanotechnology lubricant suitable for space applications

The Estonian Materials Technologies Competence Centre (MATECC) has just signed an agreement with the European Space Agency. Researchers of the centre and of the University of Tartu will start to develop a nanotechnology lubricant suitable for extreme conditions.